On paper, Marcus, Texas, looks like any other small town in Texas. Its landscape is charming, lifelong residents have a shared history, and business is booming. But soon after Joanna Lucas moves to town, she makes startling discoveries. Her next door neighbor had her leg gnawed off by a loose tiger, a beer–drinking emu lurks on her property, and her real estate agent neglected to mention that something in Marcus was making the residents very sick. While Joanna ponders hiring illegal immigrants to work on her newly acquired but dilapidated house, others are wondering about Joanna. Is she the one? Could she be the outsider they have been looking for to turn things upside–down and reveal the ugly truth?

With such heavy topics as corporate greed, industrial pollution, illegal immigrants, and corrupt politicians, only the residents of Marcus could make Damaged Goods a comedy. Prepare to cheer and laugh out loud as they fight city hall! Erin Brokovich has nothing on these ladies!

When asked to describe how this book is different than others, the honest assessment is:

I have NEVER seen a book in which a beer–swilling emu befriends illegal/undocumented workers who help a once–abused woman restore her home while she takes on corporate greed and reveals why she put her bloody tampon in the hand of a man while others ponder if urine from the nose is okay or if they would be willing to sleep with Dick Cheney. While grown women have breath–holding contests, they also take on big–time lawyers despite fire, threats, loss of wages and friends. Heavy topics such as religion, politics and race are made funny as we also read about a dead grandmother in the glove compartment and a rumored leg–munching tiger on the loose.

These characters are so outrageous and so daring and so funny that no other book can compare. When the book came to a close, I was so sad to say 'goodbye.' These are women you never, never want to let go.